NameCensus.

UK surname

Letcher

An English occupational surname for a physician or healer, derived from the Middle English "leche" meaning "doctor."

In the 1881 census there were 270 people recorded with the Letcher surname, ranking it #10,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, down from #10,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Agnes and Illogan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Letcher is 295 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.6%.

1881 census count

270

Ranked #10,484

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

1891

295 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Letcher had 270 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 295 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Letcher surname distribution map

The map shows where the Letcher surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Letcher surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Letcher over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 206 #10,183
1861 historical 248 #9,947
1881 historical 270 #10,484
1891 historical 295 #11,255
1901 historical 289 #11,944
1911 historical 274 #12,150
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 139 #22,884
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 143 #22,133
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 151 #23,745
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Letchers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Agnes, Illogan, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Gwennap. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Agnes Cornwall
3 Illogan Cornwall
4 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
5 Gwennap Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 050 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 053 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 035 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Letcher

These lists show first names that appear often with the Letcher surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Letcher

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Letcher, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Letcher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Letcher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Letcher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Letcher is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Letcher falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Letcher is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Letcher, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Letcher

The surname Letcher is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "leccan," which means "to water or moisten." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked with water or lived near a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Letcher can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lecchare" in the county of Lincolnshire. This historical document provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in various regions of England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name Letcher was documented in various forms, such as "Leccher," "Lechour," and "Lechur." These spelling variations reflect the evolving nature of surnames and the influence of regional dialects on their pronunciation and written forms.

The name Letcher has also been associated with several place names throughout England. For instance, the village of Letcher in Worcestershire, which was recorded as "Lecchyre" in the 13th century, may have contributed to the surname's origins.

Notable individuals with the surname Letcher include Robert Gould Letcher (1788-1861), who served as Governor of Kentucky from 1840 to 1844. Another prominent figure was John Letcher (1813-1884), a lawyer and politician who served as the 34th Governor of Virginia during the American Civil War.

In the literary realm, Oliver Letcher (1799-1846) was an English poet and essayist who gained recognition for his works on nature and rural life. Additionally, John Letcher (1758-1819) was a British naval officer who played a significant role in several battles during the Napoleonic Wars.

The name Letcher has also been associated with various professions and trades throughout history. For example, William Letcher (1590-1671) was a renowned English glassmaker and entrepreneur who established one of the first successful glassworks in London.

While the surname Letcher has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. It continues to be a recognizable surname, carrying with it a rich history and connection to various occupations, places, and notable individuals from the past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Letcher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Letcher surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 201 Letchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.94x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 201 65.94x
Carmarthenshire 14 12.34x
Lancashire 11 0.34x
Cumberland 9 3.88x
Gloucestershire 8 1.52x
Somerset 7 1.62x
Glamorgan 6 1.28x
Channel Islands 5 6.27x
Kent 4 0.44x
Essex 2 0.38x
Middlesex 2 0.07x
Brecknockshire 1 1.86x
Derbyshire 1 0.24x
Devon 1 0.18x
Montgomeryshire 1 1.62x
Suffolk 1 0.30x
Sussex 1 0.22x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Agnes in Cornwall leads with 56 Letchers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1311.48x.

Place Total Index
St Agnes 56 1311.48x
Illogan 38 470.88x
Kea 15 660.79x
St Allen 14 2592.59x
Gwennap 13 226.09x
Kenwyn 9 112.92x
Ladock 9 1046.51x
Millom 9 126.76x
St Enoder 8 769.23x
Llanedy 7 327.10x
Llanelly 7 27.39x
Uny Lelant 7 424.24x
Swansea Town 6 15.61x
Toxteth Park 6 5.55x
Twerton 6 134.23x
Camborne 4 31.85x
Flaxley 4 336.13x
Manchester 4 2.78x
Redruth 4 46.40x
St Peter Port 4 27.10x
Truro St Mary 4 156.25x
Westbury On Severn East 4 33.50x
Ludgvan 3 123.46x
Phillack 3 76.34x
St Erme 3 638.30x
St Erth 3 162.16x
Bexley 2 24.63x
Constantine 2 112.99x
Erith 2 22.10x
Falmouth 2 18.54x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 2 263.16x
Aspull 1 13.32x
Brighton 1 1.09x
Bromley London 1 1.69x
Exning 1 60.24x
Heckmondwike 1 11.66x
Islington London 1 0.38x
Llanidloes 1 21.88x
Lower Ystradgynlais 1 30.12x
Matlock 1 17.67x
Merther 1 434.78x
Perranzabuloe 1 38.02x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.32x
Saltash 1 42.37x
Sark 1 188.68x
St Clement 1 31.45x
Trull 1 112.36x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Letcher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 16
Eliza 7
Jane 7
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Sarah 5
Catherine 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Grace 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
C.Jane 1
Charlotte 1
Christan 1
Christian 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Electra 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
Janie 1
Julia 1
Lidia 1
Lillian 1
Lillie 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lucinda 1
Maria 1
Minie 1
Minnie 1
Nannie 1
Olympia 1
Pheba 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Letcher surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 19
William 18
John 15
Thomas 11
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Edwin 3
Henry 3
Mark 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
George 2
Jameson 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Florinei 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Jack 1
Leonard 1
Marcus 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
R.P. 1
Richd.Paull 1
Valdenear 1
Willie 1
Wilton 1

FAQ

Letcher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Letcher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 270 people were recorded with the Letcher surname. That placed it at #10,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Letcher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Letcher a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Letcher surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a physician or healer, derived from the Middle English "leche" meaning "doctor."

What does the Letcher map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Letcher bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.